A DNA-based environmental monitoring test that can identify the locations of invasive species to support eradication efforts is a ground-breaking tool that scientists at the University of Florida have created to strengthen Florida’s defenses against them.
It is frequently too late to eradicate a nonnative species after it has entered an area, so containment or long-term management become the main priorities. According to Melissa Miller, the study’s primary author and an invasion ecologist at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center (UF/IFAS FLREC), both strategies have significant financial and native wildlife consequences.
By enabling early detection and quick removal of nonnative species, we expect that this innovative eDNA sample technology we have developed will contribute to improved invasive species management efficiency, she said.
This testing technique, called a tetraplex digital PCR assay, uses soil or water samples to quickly and accurately identify Burmese pythons, northern African pythons, boa constrictors, and rainbow boas using environmental DNA, or what scientists call eDNA, that has been collected in the wild. Four invasive snake species can be concurrently identified by the test.
The genetic material that organisms release into their environment is referred to as eDNA. Scientists at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) celebrate the publication in the journal of Ecology and Evolution as a major breakthrough in invasive snake detection and a tactical tool for safeguarding Florida’s ecosystems.
Like most snakes, cryptic species are hazardous when introduced outside of their distribution because, even at great populations, they are difficult to detect. No matter how many there are, we can find these cryptic species much more easily with this new technique, according to co-author and research assistant scientist Sergio Balaguera-Reina of the UF/IFAS FLREC.
More than 500 non-native species can be found in Florida, with reptiles being the most common. There are currently over 50 non-native reptile species in the state, many of which pose serious risks to the state’s economy, agriculture, native ecosystems, and public safety.
Because invasive constrictors are elusive and cryptic, current monitoring techniques rely on visual surveys conducted by scientists, which frequently fall short of detecting them. Less than 5% of Burmese pythons are thought to be detectable using conventional survey methods. On the other hand, weeks after these snakes have departed a region, their DNA traces can be detected using the recently created tetraplex assay by UF/IFAS researchers.
This discovery provides wildlife managers with an essential tool to confirm the existence of these obscure species and evaluate the effectiveness of removal initiatives.
The advantage of our approach is that we can now sample for many target species in a single sample, even though eDNA sampling has been used to identify nonnative fauna. According to Miller, this can help natural resource managers by lowering the expenses associated with conducting nonnative species surveys in ecosystems that have been invaded.
Resource managers may swiftly and confidently carry out efficient management methods, such removal activities, thanks to the testing’s high accuracy and specificity for invasive constrictor snake detection, Miller added.
From thick ecosystems in the Everglades to metropolitan areas where nonnative constrictors are now found, the test was made to function flawlessly in Florida’s diverse and difficult conditions. Wildlife managers can use this DNA-based strategy to put in place programs that prioritize response efforts, monitor several species, and eventually lessen the ecological effects of these snakes on Florida ecosystems and Everglades restoration initiatives.
To guarantee that the DNA of every target snake species is accurately detected, creating this technology needed a great deal of effort and major technological improvements.
According to Brian Bahder, a senior author who created the eDNA approach and an associate professor of vector entomology at UF/IFAS FLREC, the first step was creating the molecular test, which is basically four tests in one. In order to prevent cross-detection across species, each test is unique to a single snake species and was created to identify DNA from the Burmese python, northern African rock python, rainbow boa, and boa constrictor.
Bahder, whose specialty has historically been identifying deadly bronzing in palm trees, clarified that the basic procedure of molecular testing is the same for all organisms, with the primary distinction being the DNA sequence. Many of the strategies are therefore readily adaptable.
After the molecular test was operational, the researchers used known DNA concentrations in water to do controlled tests. After concentrating the DNA on a filter using a vacuum pump, they tested the filter to make sure they could extract DNA from the samples and get reliable findings.
After that, they carried out an experiment to show the efficacy of the technique by submerging a Burmese python in water and collecting water samples at various points in time. If a sample was taken close by, the data estimated the amount of snake DNA in the water. Additionally, a field investigation revealed that up to two weeks after a snake was removed, its DNA could be found in the soil where it had been resting.
According to Bahder, more research is required to ascertain how time, distance, and environmental conditions affect DNA detection rates. These concentration estimates are the initial stages of a wider monitoring effort. In the end, this technology will be utilized to track and identify these invasive snakes, confirming the effectiveness of removal efforts.
State and federal agencies have spent over $10 million between 2004 and 2021 to manage the Burmese pythons alone, and the new assay is in line with their continued efforts.By extending the assay to incorporate more invasive species and applications for tracking the results of ecological restoration, the UF team intends to further investigate the tool’s potential.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!